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Magnum Research’s XIX Desert Eagle L5 and L6 are beautifully styled and highly capable lightweight gas-operated semi-automatic pistols available with 5” and 6” barrels respectively. These guns are lighter (hence their “L” monikers) than similar Magnum Research steel-framed siblings because this pair has hard-coat anodized aluminum frames.

Let’s first talk about the longer 6” barrel standard Desert Eagle L6. It features a stainless steel slide mated to a black aluminum frame. It comes in three calibers. There is a 7-round .50 AE (1 to 19” twist), an 8-round .44 Magnum (1 to 18”) and a 9-round .357 Mag (1 to 14”). The three magazines are flush-mounted.

In any guise, the semi-automatic’s core is a long, powerful 6” barrel and a staggering overall length of 10.75”. With such a long slide, it’s no surprise the sight radius is 8.5” long! Other key dimensions: width is only 1.25”, height is 6.25” and weights with empty magazine in the gun are 3 pounds 11 ounces for the .50 A.E., 3 pounds 12 ounces for the .44 Magnum and 3 pounds 13 ounces for the .357 Magnum.

Atop the slide is a long Picatinny style accessory rail that starts behind the front sight and runs half the gun’s length. This gun is post-modern chic. Yet simultaneously, its integrated muzzle brake with a quartet of oval flank ports evokes World War II submarines. The .44 and .357 have additional forward-facing muzzle ports that evoke barrel-nosed World War II fighter planes. Such beautiful design features will evince stares at the firing range.

The L6 features fixed combat sights dovetailed into the slide. Below the muzzle is a second full Picatinny style rail. So anyone will have plenty of room for lasers and other accessories. A collection of serrations at back make the slide easy to grab. The long beavertail contributes better control and faster follow on shots. And moving down, a Hogue rubber grip has three finger grooves for a comfortable grip.

Magnum Research’s XIX Desert Eagle L6 comes standard with ambidextrous safeties. The trigger guard is slightly concave providing a finger rest and slightly echoing the curved trigger.

Now let’s cover the L5 model. It is the same as the Desert Eagle L6 with the following differences. The barrel is 5” long, the sight radius and overall length are an inch shorter at 7.5” and 9.75” respectively. The barrel is also fluted, making it particularly remarkable. The slide is black steel instead of stainless steel. And the three calibers weigh 3 pounds 0.6 ounces (.50 A.E.), 3 pounds 1 ounce (.44 Magnum) and 3 pounds 1.6 ounces (.357 Magnum). The L5 also lacks the L6’s under-muzzle rail. Otherwise the guns use the same magazines with the same twist rates, etc.

Magnum Research’s Desert Eagle L5 and L6 guns are Made in USA.

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